For the second time in eight years, a woman has secured the Democratic nomination for US president, only to fall short in a campaign where gender played a pivotal role. Similar to Hillary Clinton in 2016, Kamala Harris had the opportunity to become the first woman to hold the Oval Office but faced significant challenges at the final stage.

While the charismatic appeal of their opponent—Donald Trump, in both instances—undoubtedly influenced these historic losses, many analysts also pointed to misogyny as a contributing factor. In their contrasting campaigns, Harris and Trump presented vastly different perspectives on women's status and rights.

Trump, who has been accused of multiple instances of sexual misconduct, projected a hypermasculine image, often appearing with mixed martial artists and expressing admiration for autocratic leaders. His campaign team made several remarks that were criticized as disrespectful or dismissive towards women. He referred to Harris as "crazy" and "mentally disabled," and suggested she would be treated as a "play toy" by other world leaders if elected. His running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, reiterated a 2021 comment about "childless cat ladies" running the country, adding, "I've got nothing against cats." Trump also positioned himself as a "protector" of women, claiming he would safeguard them whether they appreciated it or not.

In contrast, Harris heavily relied on support from female celebrities such as Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, and Oprah Winfrey, hoping their influence would resonate with even conservative female voters. Harris did not explicitly campaign on the premise of being the first female president, but she made defending women's rights, particularly abortion rights, a cornerstone of her platform. However, this strategy did not seem to win over a sufficient number of moderately conservative women.

At a recent campaign rally, former first lady Michelle Obama criticized the apparent double standards applied to the two White House candidates. "We expect her to be intelligent and articulate, to have a clear set of policies, to never show too much anger, to prove time and time again that she belongs," she said of Harris. "But for Trump, we expect nothing at all. No understanding of policy, no ability to put together a coherent argument, no honesty, no decency, no morals."

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